Mo Walker talks to a reporter during the Gopher basketball team's media day. New basketball coach Richard Pitino has Minnesota playing a faster style, and that means the Gophers had to get in shape, including Walker, who lost about 60 pounds since last season ended. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

A 310-pound Mo Walker wouldn't have seen the court in new Gophers coach Richard Pitino's fast-paced system.

"He wouldn't have been able to play in any system," Pitino said.

But Pitino rewarded the 6-foot-10 junior for losing 60 pounds this offseason with significant minutes in the first two exhibition games, including Monday's 101-67 win over Concordia-St. Paul at Williams Arena.

The Gophers had to see if Walker could be effective with his slimmed-down 250-pound frame. The Toronto native made the biggest impact Monday with 17 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes.

When asked what he can do now that he couldn't last season, Walker said, "Maybe that first dunk."

"Getting to the open spots and going after rebounds, I probably would've been too winded to go up and get to them last year," he said.

There should be an abundance of playing time available for Walker this season after the Gophers lost their starting frontcourt of Joe Coleman, Rodney Williams and Trevor Mbakwe.

Pitino has been trying to figure out which post players he can rely on once the regular season starts Friday against Lehigh at home.

Juniors Elliott Eliason and Oto Osenieks started at center and power forward for both exhibition games. But Walker and sophomore transfer Joey King outplayed their counterparts coming off the bench on both nights.

The Gophers, who were outrebounded in a 79-57 exhibition win over Cardinal Stricht last Friday, won the rebounding battle 45-31 Monday night.

Advertisement

Minnesota tried to use its size advantage inside with Walker and the 7-foot Eliason, who scored six of the team's first eight points.

But King, who had 14 points and five assists last week, finished with nine points, five rebounds and three steals.

King was impressive enough early to earn a starting spot to open the second half.

"I don't know who I'm going to start, but I don't think it matters," Pitino said. "You look at Joey. He didn't start but he played 26 minutes. Oto did start but he played 15 (minutes). Every game is going to be different. Those guys complement each other really well. So I think it's going to be back and forth all year with those guys."

Clearly, Pitino is comfortable with a three-guard lineup of Dre Mathieu, Andre Hollins and Austin Hollins.

At 6-4, 190 pounds, Austin Hollins is undersized to play the small forward position, but the senior captain is the team's best defender and leader.

Andre Hollins, who finished with 16 points, and Mathieu, who had 12 points and seven assists, sparked the Gophers early in the second half after Concordia cut the lead to 59-52, but Walker got another chance to prove himself again once Eliason picked up his third foul.

After snatching down an offensive rebound midway through the second half, Walker blew a point-blank layup before putting back his own missed shot while getting fouled.

Pitino, who was standing on the raised floor, hollered from the sideline, "Come on, Mo!"

Walker then calmly converted the three-point play with a free throw to cheers from the bench.

Last season, Walker wasn't much of a factor after missing more than a year because of a knee injury.

He lacked confidence and conditioning carrying around a lot of extra pounds and averaged just two points and two rebounds in about seven minutes per game.

Walker said he's still the same player who likes to crash the boards and power his way to baskets in the paint. But the Gophers still feel he has a lot more to offer with his new and improved physique.

"When you lose so much weight, he just doesn't even know his own strength sometimes," Pitino said. "He's a guy who is going to get better and better down the road."

BRIEFLY

DeLaSalle senior forward Reid Travis, who is making his college decision at 3:30 p.m. Friday at his high school, attended Monday night's game. ... Former Gophers walk-on Chris Halvorsen had three points and four rebounds for Concordia.